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  1. Home
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50 Secret Places to Visit Now

From far-flung getaways to gems that have been hiding in plain sight, meet your new travel obsessions.

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By Tracey Minkin, Lauren Phillips, Taylor Eisenhauer, and Mary Tomlinson
1 of 50 Elise Hassey

Satellite Island

Tasmania, Australia

An unpretentious—and completely private—outpost of Southern Hemisphere wilderness

Pick your ultimate hideaway on this private island in the middle of Tasmania’s D’Entrecasteaux Channel: a stunning boathouse, a clifftop luxury tent, or a sunlit, deck-wrapped summerhouse. No matter where you sleep, Satellite’s  luxurious isolation is all yours. Rates start at $1,450; satelliteisland.com.au.

 

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2 of 50 Courtesy of Ocean Tally/Thomaz Marcondes

Ocean Tally

Eleuthera, Bahamas

A storybook-style, whitewashed escape on this far-flung Out Island

Eleuthera, that wild, slender strand of coral and limestone that lies so far in kilometers and style from the buzz of Nassau, has slowly come into the spotlight for its exquisite beaches. And now, Ocean Tally’s Morocco-influenced cluster of ocean-facing cottages makes overnights simply irresistible. Rates start at $375; oceantally.com.

3 of 50 Kelsey Canon

Astwood Cove Beach

Bermuda 

Hidden below a park lies what may be Bermuda’s least-visited (and loveliest) little cove.

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4 of 50 UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa

UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa

Trancoso, Brazil

A UNESCO-protected town and coastline that maintains the aura of a bohemian hideaway 

In one of Brazil’s hottest destinations, these colorful casas have been carefully restored and crafted to evoke the legacy of a community that remains unperturbed by the influx of roads and electricity in the 1980s. Rates start at $495; uxua.com.

 

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5 of 50 WOODS on Pender

Woods on Pender

Pender Island, British Columbia

A cool cluster of renovated Airstreams in Canada’s Gulf Islands

Camping was never like this. Just off the coast of British Columbia sits tiny, conifer-studded Pender Island. And just above one of Pender’s coves sits this realization of everyone’s Airstream dreams: gorgeously renovated trailers with cedar decks, some with plunge tubs and views of Mt. Baker. A fashion-forward bar and restaurant on property will keep you a very happy camper. Rates start at $180; woodsonpender.com.

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6 of 50 Jelena Milanović

Gromin Dolac Beach

Hvar, Croatia

This jewel is lined with pebbled shores and 17th-century stone houses.

 

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7 of 50 Atlantide Phototravel/Getty

Salto de Javira Waterfall

El Cubano National Park, Cuba

Near popular Trinidad, hike to these icy, dark-turquoise waters for an exhilarating dip among jungle-covered limestone (and a swimmable cave behind the falls).

 

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8 of 50 Courtesy of dominicantreehousevillage.com

Dominican Tree House Village

El Valle, Dominican Republic

A canopy-level escape on the island’s beach-blessed Samaná Peninsula

For those who think the Dominican Republic is all about all-inclusives, think again. This jungle-rustic warren of open-air structures has a barefoot joie de vivre. And when you’re ready to come out from the trees, the golden sands of El Valle Beach complete the castaway fantasy. Rates start at $310; dominicantreehousevillage.com.

 

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9 of 50 Brian W Beard, @brianwbeard

Salto de Socoa Waterfall

National Park Los Haitises, Dominican Republic

Join locals taking a swim in these mangrove-guarded, jade-colored waters at the base of a 60-foot-high plunge.

 

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10 of 50 Galapagos Safari Camp

Galápagos Safari Camp

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

African safari style pops up in Darwin’s renowned backyard at Ecuador’s first eco-luxury camp; galapagossafaricamp.com. 

 

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11 of 50 Qamea Resort and Spa Fiji

Qamea Resort and Spa

Qamea Island, Fiji

A private island resort that takes you back to the beach in luxurious nostalgia.

Beautifully below the radar (and right on the beach) in this South Pacific realm of overwater bungalows, Qamea Resort and Spa's collection of small villas tucked among lush tropical gardens is the power move for the Fiji veteran—or the traveler who wants to feel like one. Rates start at $606; qamea.com.

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12 of 50 Courtesy of lesrochesrouges.com

Hôtel Les Roches Rouges

Saint-Raphaël, France

Refined midcentury design celebrating the Riviera’s timeless appeal

If a single spot can capture the mythos of the Côte d’Azur, it might be this one, with its saltwater pool jutting out of the rocky shore, array of outdoor lounges, and streamlined interiors that highlight the region’s light and hues. Rates start at $244; designhotels.com/hotel-les-roches-rouges.

 

 

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13 of 50 Courtesy of Hôtel & Spa des Pêcheurs

Hôtel & Spa des Pêcheurs

Cavallo, France

Corsica’s little-known sister, with a Catherine Deneuve–meets–Marcello Mastroianni vibe 

Known as the Mustique of the Mediterranean, the tiny island one mile off the coast of Corsica lures celebrities seeking privacy. The only hotel on Cavallo, the elegant Hôtel & Spa des Pêcheurs has 50 rooms set in a collection of stone cottages that hugs the shoreline, dotted with massive granite boulders. Rates start at $294; hoteldespecheurs.com.

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14 of 50 Courtesy of Anemomilos Apartments/anemomilosapartments.com

Anemomilos Apartments

Folegandros, Greece

The classic beauty of Mykonos and Santorini, minus all those tourists

Post one Instagram shot, and your friends will either divorce you in jealousy or start frantically booking their flights to this exquisite isle. Everything’s here—whitewashed stone houses, pink flowers, the cerulean Aegean—except the crowds. Complete the picture at the stunning Anemomilos Apartments. Rates start at $182; anemomilosapartments.com/hotel.

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15 of 50 Courtesy of Design Hotels

La Luna

St. George, Grenada

A best-kept-secret island in the West Indies with a Bali-influenced, intimate resort

Savvy Caribbean crawlers have long loved this Franco-Creole island, and have kept their secret close to the vest. But now, with direct service on Norwegian Air and Jet Blue, the cool cat is about to come out of the bag. Get there soon and book into La Luna, an Italian-designed, Bali-influenced resort of the lowest-key high style. Rates start at $385; laluna.com.

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16 of 50 Peter McCabe/Design Pics/Getty

Inishbofin House Hotel and Marine Spa

Inishbofin, Ireland

Off the Connemara coast, a wild Ireland that’s still intact (and within reach)

On the Island of the White Cow, scenic walking loops wind past crystal aqua waters, sandy beaches dotted with dark boulders, and crumbling reminders of former residents that can be traced to the Bronze Age. Stay in waterfront Inishbofin House’s contemporary lodge in the middle of the island, where the 140 or so residents have committed to protecting the flora and fauna through sustainable tourism practices. Rates start at $47; inishbofinhouse.com.

 

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17 of 50 JohnPetra/Getty

Fiordo di Furore

Furore, Italy

A quiet little town on the buzzy Amalfi Coast is home to this sweet sliver of shore. 

 

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18 of 50 Maremagnum/Getty

Hotel Torre di Cala Piccola

Monte Argentario, Italy

On the lesser-known Tuscan coast, a breathtaking offshore hotel

Connected to Italy’s boot only by three narrow strips of land, this rocky semi-island has two scenic ports tucked among terraced hillsides of cypress and olive trees. Rising high above it all on a 300-foot bluff, Hotel Torre di Cala Piccola—former host to Liz and Dick, to start—offers a prime vantage point for gazing out across the azure sea to distant isles. Rates start at $164; torredicalapiccola.com.

 

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19 of 50 Courtesy of Casa Angelina

Casa Angelina Eaudesea Experience Rooms

Praiano, Italy

Luxuriously restored fishing cottages carved out of cliffs below the bustling Amalfi Coast

Is there anything more perfect than the Amalfi Coast? Yes. Casa Angelina, a picturesque resort in the Amalfi village of Praiano, has something even more remarkable on offer: An elevator, 200 steps, and a pathway into the cliff lead to four fishermen’s houses carved from the stone. Redone in perfect restraint, these are hideaways of the first order, and connect you directly to the heartbeat of sea life that has sustained the Italian coast here for millennia. Rates start at $955; casangelina.com.

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20 of 50 mararie/flickr via Creative Commons

Floyd’s Pelican Bar

Parottee Bay, Jamaica

The ultimate shack: made of driftwood and perched on stilts over Caribbean shallows

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21 of 50 Ameera MacArthur

James Bond Beach

Oracabessa, Jamaica

The sleepy golden strand is near Bond author Ian Fleming’s former estate.

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22 of 50 Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voava

Four Seasons Voavah Private Island

Baa Atoll, Maldives

The first private island from Four Seasons and the apex of secluded luxury

This five-acre island is set in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a 40-minute seaplane transfer from the nearest airport. A manta ray population patrols the turquoise waters, which can be explored aboard the island’s exclusive yacht, while the villas, suites, and venues avail it to private events of any scale—all absolutely free of uninvited guests. Rates start at $40,000; fourseasons.com/maldivesvoavah.

 

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23 of 50 Courtesy of La Maison de l'Ilet Oscar

La Maison de l'Ilet Oscar

Le François, Martinique

Just offshore France’s sophisticated Caribbean outpost, a boho-forward private-island resort

If you haven’t yet discovered Martinique, that Caribbean possession of France that is home to some of the finest agricole rhums in the world, you’re already in for a surprise. Now hop offshore to this private island’s authentic colonial boutique hotel. You’ve gone native, and there are still superb croissants every morning. Rates start at $272; iletoscar.com.

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24 of 50 @feroronar

Isla Cerralvo

Baja California, Mexico

This scuba-diving hot spot off the coast of La Paz is affectionately nicknamed Jacques Cousteau Island. 

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25 of 50 Courtesy of Kristen Yax

Punta Mosquito Beach

Isla Holbox, Mexico

Share the beauty with local flamingos on this under-the-radar island. 

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26 of 50 David Heffler

Nido

Los Cabos, Mexico

The high-art nest (literally): walls of twig-like latticework floating above a serene pool.

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27 of 50 Daniel Slim/AFP/Getty Images

Verana

Yelapa, Mexico

The adventurer’s retreat just around the bend from of-the-moment Puerto Vallarta

Arrive at this eclectic hotel after a boat ride and a hike into the jungle, where the colorful compound’s pared-down houses seem to sprout organically from the trees and rocky hills. Remote, reclusive, and romantic, these cottages are the perfect home base for wandering the flower-lined jungle paths, exploring smooth ocean waters, or abandoning the itinerary altogether. Rates start at $240; verana.com.

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28 of 50 Courtesy of Aman

Aman Sveti Stefan

Budva, Montenegro

A Medieval village-turned-resort in one of Europe’s last secret corners

A manmade isthmus is all that tethers this fortified island of stone villas with red-tiled roofs, shaded courtyards, and cobbled lanes to the pink-pebbled beaches of the mainland. The village, which seems to hover above the Adriatic, stood for 600 years (and did time as a state-run tourism spot beloved by jet-setters in the ’50s) before Aman reinvigorated it as a luxury resort. Rates start at $911; aman.com/resorts/aman-sveti-stefan.

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29 of 50 Courtesy of Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas

Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort

Medjumbe Island, Mozambique

Bone-white sands, the warm Indian Ocean, and a tiny island paradise

This may be the ultimate luxury escape: Fly to Mozambique along Africa’s southern coast, and then hop aboard your bespoke helicopter. Skim across turquoise Indian Ocean waters to that bright white tendril of sand all by its blissful self. Share the 12-villa resort with other lucky souls, or take the whole thing over yourself. Rates start at $758 (the whole island for $12,948); medjumbe.anantara.com.

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30 of 50 Courtesy of Einar Engdal

Reine Rorbuer

Lofoten Islands, Norway

An Arctic fantasy: cozy, crimson-and-ochre cottages and azure waters on Norway’s northern coast

You’ve promised yourself a trip to the ends of the Earth, and this may be the best way to do it: amid the rugged, rocky splendor of this Scandinavian archipelago, under a midnight sun, ensconced in brightly colored fishing cabins—rorbuer—repurposed charmingly for savvy travelers, and reveling in the magnetic romance of the far, far North. Rates start at $210; classicnorway.no/hotell/reine-rorbuer. 

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31 of 50 Benjamin Lowy

Eil Malk

Rock Islands, Palau

Swim in the island’s deep saltwater lake, home to jellyfish that have evolved in this isolated spot to have no stingers.

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32 of 50 Courtesy of Alma Almaran

El Otro Lado—Private Retreat

Portobelo, Panama

A Pop Art jungle resort tucked inside a lush national park

Instagram was made for this cotton candy–colored cluster of villas that whispers a little midcentury, a little Caribbean, and a whole lot of charm. The verdant wilds of Portobelo National Park and the serene waters of Portobelo Bay add natural gifts to the intoxicating mix. Rates start at $525; elotrolado.com.

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33 of 50 Courtesy of Helen Cawte Photography

Tipi Valley

Algarve, Portugal

At this low-key, wave-blessed eco-retreat, sleep beneath the stars in tents and tepees, and reconnect with nature through yoga and surfing; tipivalley.com.

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34 of 50 Courtesy of @_pabloromero_

S’Espalmador

Spain

Bask in hot springs and mud baths on Ibiza’s lesser-known cousin in the Balearic Islands.

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35 of 50 StHelena/Getty Images

Mantis St Helena

St Helena

Napoleon’s final exile, now the newest remote luxury escape

Used in the 19th century as the place of banishment for the then–most dangerous man on the planet, this volcanic subtropical island’s ruggedness is softened by the additions of a 30-room luxury hotel—with select rooms in restored 18th-century officers’ barracks—and an airport, and by its 500-plus endemic species and local population of 4,500 people known as Saints. Rates start at $285; mantissthelena.com.

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36 of 50 Courtesy of Rayavadee Krabi

The Grotto at Rayavadee Resort

Krabi, Thailand

The hideout cave: cocktails served beneath a limestone cliff

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37 of 50 Courtesy of Mimi Gibion/Mendocino Grove

Mendocino Grove

Mendocino, California

The chic furnished tents in the forest are only a quarter mile from cliffside beaches; mendocinogrove.com.

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38 of 50 Courtesy of St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area CVB

Caladesi Island

Florida

Kayak 30 minutes from Honeymoon Island off Dunedin to buttercream-white sands surrounded by clear Gulf waters.

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39 of 50 Courtesy of Joey Waves

Tigertail Beach

Marco Island, Florida

A pristine Gulf of Mexico sandbar, it requires wading across a lagoon.

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40 of 50 Robbie Caponetto

The Tarpon Lodge

Pine Island, Florida

A salty dose of Old Florida culture, and surprisingly within reach

Old Florida is having a serious moment these days, and this island perched off the Gulf Coast feels a million miles—and years—away from the hurly burly of Fort Myers. To make the escape complete, bed down at the gracious, old-school Tarpon Lodge. Rates start at $115; tarponlodge.com.

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41 of 50 Greg Elms/Lonely Planet/Getty Images

Kaluahine Falls

Waipi‘o Valley Beach, Hawai‘i Island, Hawai‘i

Water from verdant cliffs drops right into the ocean. For a two-waterfall day, hike from here to the 1,450- foot-high Hi‘ilawe Falls.

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42 of 50 Courtesy of Rachel Glosser

Makalawena Beach

Hawai‘i Island, Hawai‘i

The beach is generally empty, save for sea turtles and palm trees.

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43 of 50 Douglas Merriam

Sandy Pines Campground

Kennebunkport, Maine

Designer-bedecked tents make this a grown-up’s version of summer camp heaven, with bustling Dock Square just 15 minutes away; sandypinescamping.com.

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44 of 50 Susan Hall Mahon

Seawall Beach

Phippsburg, Maine

Trek two miles for the serene payoff of this insider find bordering a conservation area.

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45 of 50 Courtesy of Lauren Wintemberg/AMPR

White Elephant Lofts

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Hidden apartments right in the middle of Nantucket’s historic town center

This may be the best secret in the world: Thanks to the esteemed White Elephant on tony, fabulous Nantucket, you can vacation in town, right above those shops that call like sirens to you by day. Insiders know that the resort holds a pair of sunlit, modern lofts above the cobblestones, and they’re yours to inhabit—if, that is, you know to ask. Rates start at $1,800; whiteelephanthotel.com.

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46 of 50 Courtesy of Lark Hotels

Blue—Inn on the Beach

Plum Island, Massachusetts

A serene, sophisticated inn on a little-known island

No, this is not the Hamptons. But this little boutique hotel, with its crisp blue-and-white interiors, will make you think you’re there. Instead, you’ve discovered a beachy getaway hidden in plain sight between Boston and the New Hampshire border. Count your blessings you found it early. Rates start at $269; blueinn.com.

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47 of 50 Rubens Alarcon/Alamy

Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa

Pacific City, Oregon

A new Pacific Northwest resort that feels like it’s on the edge of the world

Situated alongside a protected natural area on a stretch of Oregon coastline that, shockingly, remains an untapped (and relatively undeveloped) paradise, Headlands welcomes those seeking a quiet escape to a handsome, woodsy lodge that celebrates enduring coastal pastimes like beach bonfires and surfing. Rates start at $320; headlandslodge.com.

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48 of 50 Lidija Kamansky/Getty Images

Secret Beach

Samuel Boardman State Scenic Corridor, Oregon

This aptly named beauty is accessible only at low tide.

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49 of 50 Alex Grichenko/DigiDreamGrafix/Getty Images

Hunting Island State Park

Hunting Island, South Carolina

A barrier island’s best-kept secret: its one little cottage

Close to the charming town of Beaufort, this beloved wild place lures Lowcountry day-trippers who gape at the windswept marvel of it all. But you know the inside play: a camping area and—better still—one darling, just-rustic-enough cabin that can be booked (far in advance). Wave goodbye to the day-trippers, and occupy your kingdom. Rates start at $200; southcarolinaparks.com/hunting-island/lodging.

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50 of 50 Frank Pali/All Canada Photos/Getty Images

Tatoosh Island

Washington

Wild and windswept, Tatoosh sits at the entrance to the Straits of Juan de Fuca off the northwesternmost tip of the Olympic Peninsula.

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